Rubber boot



June 6, 1933- G. VAN DINTER Er AL 1,912,417

RUBBER BOOT s sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. '7, 19.30

@J6/Mors:

June 5, 1933 G. L. VAN DxNTER ET A1. 19912417 RUBBER BOOT Filed Feb, '7,1950 3 Sheets-5heet 2 a z/Q mv n/ f a ma, Em. www am G. L. VAN DINTER ETAL 1,912,417

June 6, 1933.

RUBBER BOOT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. '7, 1950 Clit Patented June 6,1933 UNITED STATES GEORGE L. VAN DINTER AND CONRAD PATENT OFFICEFERRETTIE, OF MISHAVAKA, INDIANA,

ASSICTNGRS TO MISHAVAKA RUBBER AND W'OOLEN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OFINSHAWAKA, INDANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA RUBBER BOOT Application ledFebruary 7, 1930. Serial No. 426,478.

Our invention relates to high top footwear or boots of form fittng type,similar to that of Van Dinter Patents 1,771,003 and 1,771,004, and VanDinter and F errettie Patents 1,726,782 and 1,771,277, wherein anexpansible area is provided along the ankle and instep portion fortemporary enlargement thereof in applying and removing the boot, and ourpresent invention has reference more particularly to improvements 1nboots of this character.

The principal objects of our invention are z-to provide a neat, compactand flexible pocket structure permitting ample eXpansion at the ankleand instep so that the boot may be readily applied and removed; ltoaiford adequate strength to withstand the strains of usage; to insurethorough sealing against leakage throughout the life of the boot; tominimize material; to arrange the pocket in the boot so that a smoothinterior is obtained without irregularities which would cause discomfortor interfere in applying or removing the boot; to provide a constructionwith which eyelets may be satisfactorily employed for lacing; to avoidcapillary leakage at the eyelets and elsewhere into the interior of theboot, and in general to provide a structure and method which increasesthe serviceability and comfort and improves the appearance of boots ofthe form fitting type and facilitates the manufacture thereof.

On the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a boot con- 'structed in accordance withour invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of substantially the lower half of the boot withthe outer covering broken away in several places to disclose details ofthe construction;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the lower portion of the bootstructure partially assembled on a. last ready for the pocket member tobe applied thereto;

Fig. l is a similar view showing the pocket member assembled in place;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially onthe line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the layer or blank of rubber composition whichserves as the front wall of the pocket member;

F ig. 7 is a similar view of the assembled front wall with portions atone side thereof broken away;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of the lower end of the pocket membershowing the manner of installing the lower end reinforcing;

9 is a front View of the completed pocket member with portions brokenaway to show details of the construction;

Fig. 10 is a back view of the completed pocket member;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view on the. line 11-11 of Fig. 9; i

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of the reinforced lower end of thepocket taken substantially on the line 12-12 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 13 is a view loolring at the inner side of one of the side sectionscomprising the outer covering of the boot and with the upper portionthereof broken away, and

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the outer toe and vamp covering of the boot.

Referring to the drawings, we have shown our invention in Fig. 1 inconnection with a boot of linee length although it may, of

course, be used with boots of other lengths. The wall of the boot upperis divided at the front along the line to form a pair of separableinstep flaps 21 and 22 of Blucher type with flared lower ends 23 and 24and these flaps have their' upper ends joined together at a distancebelow the top of the boot substantially at the point 25, so that thewall of the boot thereabove is undivided and continuous across the frontof the boot. The vamp of the boot has an extension, indicated as a wholeat 26 which extends upwardly under the separable laps 21 and 22 and isconnected at its upper end to the wall of the boot above the upper endof the opening 20. This extension, which is somewhat elliptical in form,has portions indicated as a whole at 27 and 28 extending inwardlythereover at each side and joined along their inner edges to the undersides of the respective flaps 21 and 22 so as to form in eHect anelongated somewhat elliptical pocket member or pouch which closes theopening between the flaps 21 and 22 but permits separation thereof andsufficient enlargement of the boot at the ankle and instep so that thefoot may be readily inserted in and removed from the boot. In the closedposition tiis pocket or pouch and the instep flaps fold together in aflat compact form corresponding to the shape of the ankle and instep andthe expansible structure may be held in this closed compact form by alacing 29 which is engaged through eyelets 30 arranged at intervalsalong the flaps 2l and 22.

In some cases it is desired to provide adjustment of the upper end ofthe boot to insure a satisfactory lit and this may be accomplished byforming the boot wall at the upper end and preferably at the outer sidewith a slit or opening 3l and a strap 32 and buckle 213 for regulatingthe adjustment thereof. A folded and eXpansible gusset 34 is alsopreferably provided at the inner side of the boot wall to close theopening 31.

In a rubber boot of this character it is important to provide a compactand flexible expansible ankle and instep structure with smooth interiorand exterior surfaces so as to insure comfort, freedom of movement, neatand attractive appearance and avoid excessive strains and it isparticularly important to thoroughly seal and reinforce the pocketstructure against leakage throughout the life of the boot, all of whichis accomplisdied by constructing the boot in the following manner:

The boot lining, preferably composed of a pair of similar half sectionsor quarters and 36 which have a gum coating on their outer surfaces andare joined together along their forward edges in ed gewise abuttingrelation by the tape 37, is stretched around the last 38, securedtogether at the back and lasted over and secured to the edge of theinsole in the usual manner. A strip 39 of rubber composition is thenapplied around the lower edge of the boot except at the heel, afterwhich a vamp covering of fabric 40 with a gum coating on the under sideand a layer 41 of rubber composition on the outer side and extendingbeyond the edges of the fabric, is fitted over the toe and adhesivelysecured to the gum coated lining with the edges of the vamp coveringlasted over the enge of the insole. A heel reinforcing 42 of fab-- ricwhich is gum coated on both sides is also secured to the boot lining andextends around the heel and part way up the back of the boo:L as shownin Figs. 3 and 4 and this assembled structure (shown in F ig. 3) is thenready for the pocket member to be applied thereto.

The pocket member is preferably made up of front and back walls ofrubber composition which are assembled and secured together along theirmarginal edges as follows 'The front Wall which consists of a layer ofrubber composition of substantially the form shown in F ig. 6 is slittedlongitudinally to form the two side portions 43 and 44 which areconnected at their upper ends and have their lower ends flared as at 45and 4G respectively to conform to the flaring forma tion ofthe lowerends of the instep flaps 2l and 22. rlhe side portions 43 and 44 arealso preferably slightly connected at several other points such asindicated at 47 for convenient-1, in holding the edge thereof inadjoining relation during the assembling of the pocket. This front walllayer is laid out flat after which a strip of rubber composition isadhesively secured to each portion 43 and 44 along the inner edgethereof as shown in Fig. 7, the strip on the side portion 43 beingindicated at 48 and the strip on the side portion 44 being indicated at49. Then a piece of fabric which is gum coated on the under side isadhesively secured to each side portion 43 and 44 at the outer side ofthe respective strip 48 or 49 with the outer edge of each pieceregistering with the outer edge of the respective portion 43 or 44 andthe inner edge thereof slightly overlapping the correspondingrubberstrip 48 or 49, said fabric pieces being indicated respectively at50 and 5l.

After the front wall has been prepared as above indicated, it is turnedover and has the back wall 52 secured thereto. This back wall which isalso of rubber composition and corresponds in shape to the front walleX- cept that it is not divided and has an extension 53 at the lowerend, is of slightly smaller size than the front wall of the pocket. Anarrow marginal edge portion of the back wall, such as indicated outsidethe dotted line 54 in F ig. l0 is coated with rubber adhesive, afterwhich the back wall 52 is laid on the rear face of the front wall 43-44with the edge of the latter projecting out beyond the edges of the backwall 52 as shown in Fig. l0 and the cemented edge of said back wall isrolled down by means of a stitch wheel into close adherence with thefront wall, the markof said stitch wheel bein ifidicated at After theback wall has been applied as above, the connections 47 between the sideportions 43 and 44- of the front wall are broken and a patch orreinforcing 56 of rubber composition is secured to the interior of theback wall as indicated in Fig. 8, said patch being of a form to affordside portions 57 and 5S which are folded inwardly along the junctureline of the front and back walls of the pocket and secured respectivelyto the under sides of the flaps 43 and 44 at the lower end so as toreinforce the joints between the front and back walls of the pocketmember at the lower end thereof. After the patch 56 has been applied andadhesively secured in place, the interior of t-he pocket member isthoroughly talcumed to prevent adhesion of the front and back Wallsduring the subse- 2 in the outturned position so that they serve I ofthe pocket at each side to partially cut 5p the partially severed lines65 may be proquent construction of the boot and after talcuming theflaps 43 and 44 are arranged in abutting edge to edge relation andconnected by a thin tape 59 which is perforated along the line ofseparation of the flaps 43 and 44 so that they may be readily dividedalong this line after the completion of the boot. This tape 59 extendsfrom a point adjacent the lower end of the flaps 43 and 44 nearly butnot quite to the connected upper ends of said flaps as shown by dottedlines in Fig. 9. A wide strip of rubber composition 60 is thenadhesively applied over the tape 59 and extends entirely to the upperextremity of the pocket where the end is trimmed to conform to the shapeof the latter and the upper end of the pocket is rolled along the edgesand transversely with a stitch wheel as indicated by the markings at 61and 62 in Fig. 9, to insure a solid and permanent connection of therubber parts and a thorough sealing at the upper end of the pocket.

After the pocket has been prepared as above indicated, it is applied inposition over and adhesively secured to the gum coated lining on thelast with the lower end of the pocket, including the lower extremitiesof the side portions Y43 and 44 positioned over the vamp covering 41 ofrubber composition, and after the pocket is placed in position theinturned portions 57 and 58 of the patch are turned outwardly over thelower extremities of the pocket side portions 43 and 44 as shown at 63and 64 in Fig. 4 and adhesively secured to provide extra rubber at thelower extremities of the portions 43 and 44 and reinforce same againstthe strains to which the flaps are subjected when the ankle and instepporremoving the foot.

After the pocket structure of Figs. 9 and 1() has been secured to thelining structure of Fig. 3, a stitch wheel is run close the edge throughthe lining along the lines 65, said lines terminating near to the lowerend of the flaps 43 and 44 and also a short distance below the upper endof the pocket. Of course,

vided before the pocket is applied, and they are so shown in Fig. 3, butit is preferred to first place the pocket in position and then run thecutter along the edges of the pocket us- 1 ing the latter as a guide todetermine the position of the partially cut lines.

After the pocket is secured in place and the lining partially cut alongthe lines 65, a piece of fabric 66 or 67 somewhat similar in shape tethe pieces 5() and 51 but slightly wider and having a gum coated outer'face, is laid over each pocket flap and cemented along the inner edge tothe inner edge of the respective fabric piece 50 or 51 and is preferablyextended slightly beyond the edge thereof and cemented to the adjoiningsurface of the respective rubber strips 48 or 49 as shown particularlyin Fig. 5. The outer edge of each of these fabric pieces 66 and 67extends beyond the outer edge of the pocket and bcyond the cut line andis cemented to the respective lining section 35 or 36 at the outer sideof the lines 65.

Side spikes indicated by dotted lines at 68 in Fig. 2, a Ld havinggummed inner and` outer faces are then adhesively secured to theassembled structure at each side of the boot just backof the pocketstructure and a rag heel, indicated by the dotted line at 69 in Fig. 2,with gummed inner and outer faces is applied around the licei afterwhich the` structure is ready for the outside covering of the boot. Thispreferably consists of right and left quarters 7 O and 71 respectivelywhich are cut away at 72 to extend downl forward and rear edges beyondthe forward Y and rear edges of the fabric 74 as shown in Fig. 13 Thereis also an inner layer 76 of rubber composition which likewise extendsbeyond the forward edge of the fabric 74 so as to form a rubber torubber connection between the layers 7 5 and 76 and seal the forwardedge of the fabric. Said layer 76 of rubber, however, does not extendentirely Yto the lower or rear edges of the fabric and it may alsoterminate well below the upper end of the quarter, it being important,however, that it extend well up above the opening between the side fiaps21 and 22 of the boot, the extension 77 shown herein being provided forthis purpose. These quarters are applied y at the opposite sidesrespectively of the boot with the edge 72 located substantially asindicated by the dotted line in Fig. 2 and the portions of bothquarters, substantially between the points A and B of Fig. 13 fittedtogether along the edges of the respective iiaps 21 and 22 and saidquarters which have the forward edges extended above the point A for thepurpose, are lapped above this point and rolled down into closeengagement in the usual manner so as to afford a solid unbrokenconnection of the boot wall above the point 25. These quarters are thenrolled down on the last and secured together at the back and lasted overthe sole in the usual manner. A heel piece comprising a. layer 78 offabric gum coated on the inner side and with a layer of rubber 79 on theouter side of and extended beyond the edges of the fabric is thenadhesively secured around the heel and lower portion of the back Wall ofthe boot with the side extensions 8O thereof projecting forwardlysubstantially to the point 81 of Fig. 2, and secured to the oppositesides respectively of the boot structure. A toe covering comprising thefabric layer 82 gum coated on the inner side and with a layer 83 ofrubber composition on the outer side and extending beyond the edges ofthe fabric is then applied in place, with the pointed portion S4 thereoffitted up between the curved edges 23 and 24 of the side flaps 21 and 22and adhesively secured to the upper surface of the. patch 5G. This toecovering has side extensions 85 which extend along the side of thefootportion of the boot and overlap the forward ends of the sideportions 80 of the heel piece as shown in Fig. 2.

After the boot has been assembled as above and the sole and heel builtthereon in the usual manner, the structure is vulcanized, after whichthe tapes 59 and G0 and other adjoining portions of the fiaps 2l and 22that may have become adhesively united during assembling andvulcanizing, are slit along the line 20 to the point 25, below the upperend of the pocket member so that the iiaps 2l and 22 may be separatedand access had to the interior of the pocket, and thereafter bymanipulating the pocket member and Wall of the boot the section of thelining on the back wall of the pocket is separated along the partialiycut lines 65 from the portions of the lining therebeyond. The ankle andinstep portion of the boot may then be expanded and the latter removedfrom the last, after which the eyelets 30 are applied to the flaps 2land 22.

These eyelets penetrate or extend through the flaps 2l and 22 at adistance back from the edges of the flaps, and cause openings in thelatter through which water or moisture may enter the interior of theflaps, and it is important therefore that the flaps be properly sealedto prevent communication of moisture to the interior of the boot, whichmay readily occur by capillary action through any fabric layers whichextend from said eyelet openings to the interior of the boot.

In the present structure such communication of moisture is effectivelyprevented as the forward edges of the fabric pieces and 66 on the oneside and 5l and 67 on the other side terminate a substantial distancefrom the inner edge of the respective fiap 21 or 22 and aresealed orembedded between the layers 76 and 48 or 49 of rubber composition sothat these fabric pieces are thoroughly sealed against any possibilityof moisture the rubber layer 67 and beyond or at such remote places bythe gum coating on the inner. face thereof and by the gum coating on thelining and other pieces thereunder. For example, at the back seam, asshown in Fig. 5, the rear edge of one of the side fabrics v74 isadhesively secured by the gum coating on its inner face to the gumcoated outer face of the heel reinforcing 42 which latter has a gumcoated inner face adhesively secured to the gum coated outer face of thelining 35, 36, said edge of the fabric 74 where it extends above theheel reinforcing 42 having its gunimecl inner face adhesively secureddirectly to the gummed outer face of the lining, and these gum coatingswhich consolidate in vulcanization afford at these remote places amplesealing of the rear edge of the said fabric layer 74 against any pos-Ysible communication of moisture from the eyelet openings through thefabric 74 and into the interior of the boot at the back. The rear edgeof the other side fabric 74 is lapped over and sealed by a rubber layer75. Moreover. the edge portions of the flaps in which the eyelets areengaged are adequately reinforced not only by the portion of the fabricstrip or tape 59 which is embedded therein but also by the intermediatefabric layer 74 of the boot wall, the latter of which is separatedthroughout from the interior of the boot by the layer 7 6 of rubbercomposition.

Thus a structure is provided which is effectively sealed against anyleakage due to fasteners engaged in or through the flaps or impairmentof the edges of the flaps by repeated manipulation and use, and it is tobe noted that in this construction the pocket member has only a singlelayer of fabric on the back Wall and a single layer on the front Wallthereby aording a flat, compact and flexible structure. Moreover theedges of the layers of rubber composition forming the front and backwalls of the pocket are offset to insure a substantial joint whichbecause of this arrangement is adequately reinforced by the layer offabric on the back wall overlapping the joint and this offsetarrangement of the pocket Wall edges also gives the pocket a tapered orsomewhat feathered edge which fits Within and seats neatly against theinner face of the boot wall and avoids any abrupt and undesirable stepoff or shoulder along the edge of the pocket.

While we have shown and described our invention in a preferred form, weare aware that various changes and modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the principles of our invention, the scope ofwhich is to be determined by the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

l. A rubber boot ofthe class describedhaving the wall thereof formedwith a pair of substantially abutting laterally separable instep flaps.,the upper ends of which are joined together at a distance below the topof the boot, and an elongated pocket member underlying and closing theopening between said flaps and comprising front and back walls ofrubber' composition with the marginal edge of one pocket wall projectingbeyond the marginal edge of the other pocket wall, and a fabric coveringsecured to the outside face of one of said pocket walls and extendingover and secured to the extended marginal edge of the other pocket wall.

2. A rubber boot of the class described having a boot wall comprising afabric reinforced layer of rubber, said wall having adjoining portionsthereof at the front forming laterally separable instep iaps the upperends of which are joined together at a distance below the top of thebootj and an elongated pocket member under and closing the openingbetween said flaps and comprising front and back walls each of whichcomprises a layer of rubber joined along its outer marginal edge to therubber layer of the other pocket wall, said front wall being dividedinto laterally separable portions each of which has an area ofsubstantial width along its inner edge consolidated with a correspondingarea along the inner edge of the respective overlying instep flap7 therebeing a direct rubber to rubber connection of the rubber layer of theboot wall with the aforesaid rubber layer of the pocket front wall alongthe outer edge of the consolidated area.

3. A rubber boot of the class described having a boot wall comprising afabric reinforced layer of rubber., said wall having adjoining portionsthereof at the front forming laterally separable instep flaps the upperends of which are joined together at a distance below the top of theboot, and an elongated pocket member under and closing the openingbetween said flaps and comprising front and back walls each of whichcomprises a layer of rubber oined along its outer marginal edge to therubber layer of the other pocket wall, said front wall being dividedinto laterally separable portions each of which has an area ofsubstantial width along its inner edge consolidated with a correspondingarea along the inner edge of the respective overlying instep flap, therebeing a direct rubber to rubber connection of the rubber layer of theboot wall with the aforesaid rubber layer of the pocket front wall alongthe outer edge of the consolidated areaa each separable front wallportion of the pocket member having a reinforcing fabric on its outerface and each instep flap of the boot wall having a reinforcing fabricon its inner face7 said fabrics extending inwardly to and terminatingalong the aforesaid rubber to rubber connection so that the latter sealsthe inner margin of said fabrics at a substantial distance from theinner edges of the instep flaps.

et. A rubber boot of the class described having a boot wall comprising afabric reinforced layer of rubber7 said wall having adjoining portionsthereof at the front forming laterally separable instep flaps the upperends of which are joined together at a distance below the top of theboot, an elongated pocket member under and closing the opening betweensaid flaps and comprising front and bach walls each of which comprises alayer of rubber joined along its outer marginal edge to the rubber layerof the other pocket wall, said front wall being divided into laterallyseparable portions each of which has an area of substantial Width alongits inner edge consolidated with a corresponding area along the inneredge of the respective overlying instep flap, there being a directrubber to rubber connection of the rubber layer the boot wall with theaforesaid rubber layer of the pocket front wall along the outer edgeofthe consolidated area, and the fabric reinforcing of the boot wallincluding a fabric layer on the outer side of the rubber layer of theboot wall and extending transversely across the aforesaid rubber torubber connection.

5. A. rubber boot of the class described having a boot wall comprising afabric reinforced layer of rubber, said wall having adjoining portionsthereof at the front forming laterally separable instep flaps the upperends of which are joined together at a distance below the top of theboot, an elongated pocket member under and closing the opening betweensaid flaps and comprising front and back walls each of which comprises alayer of rubber joined along its outer marginal edge to the rubber layerof the other pocket wall, said front wall being divided into laterallyseparable portions each of which has an area of substantial width alongits inner edge consolidated with a corresponding area along the inneredge of the respective overlying instep flap, their being a directrubber to rubber connection of the rubber layer of the boot wall withthe aforesaid rubber layer of the pocket front wall along the outer edgeof the consolidated area7 each separable front wall portion of thepocket member having a reinforcing fabric on its outer face and eachinstep flap of the boot wall having a. reinforcing fabric on its innerface, said fabrics extending inwardly to and terminating along theaforesaid rubber to rubber connection so that the latter seals the innermargin of said fabrics at a substantial distance from the inner edges ofthe instep flaps, and eyelets located inwardly beyond the s-ealed innermargins of said fabrics and extending through the consolidated portionsof the instep flaps and separable portions of the pocket front Wall.'

6. In a rubber boot the combination of a rubber faced upper having aslit extending part Way up the front, said slit having the upper endclosed and spaced from the top of the boot, and an expansible pocketmember under and closing said slit, said pocket member comprising frontand back Walls of sheet rubber composition with corresponding opposedmarginal portions thereof vulcanized together, said sheet rubber of thefront Wall of the pocket member being slitted and having an undividedportion thereof beyond the upper end of its slit and portions along eachside of said slit vulcanized to the boot upper respectively at the upperend and at the opposite sides of the slit in the boot upper.

GEORGE L. VAN DINTER. CONRAD FERRETTIE.

